Dads are impossible to buy for - is it just me? Whether it's Christmas, birthdays or Father's Day, I'm never sure what to get mine even though we're actually quite similar. With the big day just a couple of weeks away now I thought I'd pull together some of the ideas I've had so keep scrolling to see if my gift guide has something yours will love too...
If he's a massive movie or TV buff why not pick him up The Wire - The Complete Series on DVD. This gritty american crime drama is just what dads need for that Sunday afternoon binge. What makes The Wire unusual is that it's a cop show that refuses merely to be a cop show. It inhabits Baltimore in all its attributes. We see inside the local politics, the local media, community groups, the lives of the city's homeless people, the personal lives of its law enforcers, and above all the lives of its criminals. It's very brave and unusual to show us the criminal side of a community from the criminals' point of view, and The Wire is innovative in being so unflinching in depicting this. It's a far cry from the glossy world of, say, CSI.
If your Dad is a bit of an audiophile and Apple geek then why not pikc him up the brand new Homepod. At £340 it's certainly a luxury gift but he's obviously worth it right? If you still live at home then at least it's an excuse to get one in the house and experience the incredible sound that you get from a high spec speaker like this. The HomePod is covered in a seamless cloth grille, which Apple claims lets sound emanate without altering it in any way.
There’s a chunky woofer powered by a custom amp, a 360-degree seven-tweeter array, and a six-mic array for capturing your voice from a distance. The mics work well and pick up voices capably, even at a distance and with music blaring. If you really want to treat him this Father's Day then the Homepod is the perfect gift.
If you'd rather sort out his skincare routine then why not pick him up the Clinique For Men Daily Oil Control Skincare Kit which you can pick up from John Lewis. At £26 it's a real bargain for Clinique and contains a few of their bestselling products to get his skin in shape. The Oil Control Face Wash thoroughly cleanses and removes excess oil, while the luxurious Cream Shave provides a rich buffer against razor drag and nicks. Whereas the Mattifying Moisturiser delivers lightweight, oil-free hydration and skin-strengthening ingredients, plus helps skin stay matte all day.
If he's more into fashion then why not pick him up a nice new shirt for the office or for weekends. You really can't go wrong with any of these from Jack Wills and Ted Baker...
Don't forget to check out my other gift guides for guys here:
If he's a massive movie or TV buff why not pick him up The Wire - The Complete Series on DVD. This gritty american crime drama is just what dads need for that Sunday afternoon binge. What makes The Wire unusual is that it's a cop show that refuses merely to be a cop show. It inhabits Baltimore in all its attributes. We see inside the local politics, the local media, community groups, the lives of the city's homeless people, the personal lives of its law enforcers, and above all the lives of its criminals. It's very brave and unusual to show us the criminal side of a community from the criminals' point of view, and The Wire is innovative in being so unflinching in depicting this. It's a far cry from the glossy world of, say, CSI.
If your Dad is a bit of an audiophile and Apple geek then why not pikc him up the brand new Homepod. At £340 it's certainly a luxury gift but he's obviously worth it right? If you still live at home then at least it's an excuse to get one in the house and experience the incredible sound that you get from a high spec speaker like this. The HomePod is covered in a seamless cloth grille, which Apple claims lets sound emanate without altering it in any way.
There’s a chunky woofer powered by a custom amp, a 360-degree seven-tweeter array, and a six-mic array for capturing your voice from a distance. The mics work well and pick up voices capably, even at a distance and with music blaring. If you really want to treat him this Father's Day then the Homepod is the perfect gift.
If you'd rather sort out his skincare routine then why not pick him up the Clinique For Men Daily Oil Control Skincare Kit which you can pick up from John Lewis. At £26 it's a real bargain for Clinique and contains a few of their bestselling products to get his skin in shape. The Oil Control Face Wash thoroughly cleanses and removes excess oil, while the luxurious Cream Shave provides a rich buffer against razor drag and nicks. Whereas the Mattifying Moisturiser delivers lightweight, oil-free hydration and skin-strengthening ingredients, plus helps skin stay matte all day.
If he's more into fashion then why not pick him up a nice new shirt for the office or for weekends. You really can't go wrong with any of these from Jack Wills and Ted Baker...
Don't forget to check out my other gift guides for guys here:
- TOP 5 GIFTS FOR GUYS - OLIVER BONAS
- TOP 5 | LUXURY FRAGRANCE GIFTS FOR GUYS
- TOP 5 | MEN'S FRAGRANCE GIFTS UNDER £50
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My last Let's Play was one of the most popular posts I've ever done so I thought why not do another one and tell you about the games I've been playing so far this year. There haven't been any big new releases yet in 2018 so I actually picked these games up before Christmas during the Black Friday sales and got a couple of really good bargains. Enjoy!
Assassin's Creed Origins
First up is a game I've been obsessed with over the past few weeks and certainly one of my games of the year for 2017 - Assassin's Creed Origins. I've been a fan of the series for a long time but fell out of love with it over the past few iterations, but buy has this got me right back into the franchise! Set in ancient Egypt, your character is on the hunt for revenge and discovers the secrets of the Pyramids and the desert along the way. Amazing game, great combat and visuals with amazing RPG elements this time around. In terms of reinventing a stale formula, Origins knocks the franchise's previous entries out of the part. A beautiful, huge open world populated by realistic characters and interesting events around every corner. A must buy for any gamer.
You can pick it up on Amazon here.
Destiny 2
Now this next game has caused a huge amount of outcry from fans of the original who say it's just a copy and paste of the first game with a somewhat boring story mode this time around. Destiny 2 has truly split the gaming community. There are those who loved the addictive multiplayer and futuristic weaponry from the original game and are happy for more of the same, but then the other side of the argument is that is this really worth £50 for what feels like DLC more than a fully fledged game?
I sit firmly in the first camp and believe this is a stand out game that feels far more polished and better executed than Destiny 1. Players will notice immediately that the storyline has been given much more focus which is nice to see since this was one of the biggest complaints about the first game. So far the stability has been good for me, in around 30 hours of play time I've only been kicked off 3 times. The gameplay is just as good as ever and there are a whole host of minor improvements which will really please veterans of the original Destiny.
The campaign is brilliant but a little short, that is not a criticism though as it's such a tiny part of the game, the real bulk of the game is working your way up to the current level cap of 300 and getting good enough to complete the raid, past level 265 progress is slow but there is still so much to do. I have to admit I'm slightly addicted and can see myself racking up many, many hours on Destiny 2!
You can pick it up on Amazon here.
Call of Duty WW2
Fans have been waiting for this game for what feels like 5 years. Boots on the ground COD in a world war 2 setting has been what fans of the franchise have been asking for for a long time now and we've finally got it. The new Call of Duty is a vastly different game from previous iterations that have been set in a futuristic world with jet packs and crazy weapons (think Destiny 2) but now the franchise has gone back to it's roots with this gritty WW11 thriller of a game. The campaign is short but very respectively presented whilst putting the player right into the boots of soldiers on both sides of the war.
Some of the better moments of the campaign I felt were around the stealth aspects including a tense level of spying in the German headquarters in Paris. Trying to return a child blended both the gameplay and cut scenes brilliantly to make you feel like part of an action scene that had some emotional weight. Even supplying ammo to frontline soldiers in the Ardennes forest was welcomed as a change of pace from the run-and-gun moments that you see plenty of (albeit in a hand-held way).
Multiplayer has followed suit with Destiny by having a community ‘lobby’ where you can equip your soldier, test weapons, prestige your class, take up daily and weekly orders – there’s bloody loads of stuff! At first it can seem daunting as there are lots of things you need to do and the game itself doesn’t do a great job at helping you to get started. There are so many things going on at once – daily orders, weekly orders, weapon upgrade tasks, player upgrades, perks, ribbons, appearance unlocks it can be a headache to navigate especially as there are so many menus to go across and the UI isn’t the best. It took me ages to find some features and in the end I had to just google ‘How do I…” and I found the answers. I’m not in a hurry to get the most badass class going so I am taking my time with a lot of the things and I feel I enjoy it more, the game can feel a little pressuring on some of the options as there are time restrictions to achieve objectives from a week down to 30 minutes for some. A lot of the rewards are either coins or loot crates.
You can pick it up from Amazon here.
What games have you picked up recently? I'd love to get your recommendations on what to play next.
Assassin's Creed Origins
First up is a game I've been obsessed with over the past few weeks and certainly one of my games of the year for 2017 - Assassin's Creed Origins. I've been a fan of the series for a long time but fell out of love with it over the past few iterations, but buy has this got me right back into the franchise! Set in ancient Egypt, your character is on the hunt for revenge and discovers the secrets of the Pyramids and the desert along the way. Amazing game, great combat and visuals with amazing RPG elements this time around. In terms of reinventing a stale formula, Origins knocks the franchise's previous entries out of the part. A beautiful, huge open world populated by realistic characters and interesting events around every corner. A must buy for any gamer.
You can pick it up on Amazon here.
Destiny 2
Now this next game has caused a huge amount of outcry from fans of the original who say it's just a copy and paste of the first game with a somewhat boring story mode this time around. Destiny 2 has truly split the gaming community. There are those who loved the addictive multiplayer and futuristic weaponry from the original game and are happy for more of the same, but then the other side of the argument is that is this really worth £50 for what feels like DLC more than a fully fledged game?
I sit firmly in the first camp and believe this is a stand out game that feels far more polished and better executed than Destiny 1. Players will notice immediately that the storyline has been given much more focus which is nice to see since this was one of the biggest complaints about the first game. So far the stability has been good for me, in around 30 hours of play time I've only been kicked off 3 times. The gameplay is just as good as ever and there are a whole host of minor improvements which will really please veterans of the original Destiny.
The campaign is brilliant but a little short, that is not a criticism though as it's such a tiny part of the game, the real bulk of the game is working your way up to the current level cap of 300 and getting good enough to complete the raid, past level 265 progress is slow but there is still so much to do. I have to admit I'm slightly addicted and can see myself racking up many, many hours on Destiny 2!
You can pick it up on Amazon here.
Call of Duty WW2
Fans have been waiting for this game for what feels like 5 years. Boots on the ground COD in a world war 2 setting has been what fans of the franchise have been asking for for a long time now and we've finally got it. The new Call of Duty is a vastly different game from previous iterations that have been set in a futuristic world with jet packs and crazy weapons (think Destiny 2) but now the franchise has gone back to it's roots with this gritty WW11 thriller of a game. The campaign is short but very respectively presented whilst putting the player right into the boots of soldiers on both sides of the war.
Some of the better moments of the campaign I felt were around the stealth aspects including a tense level of spying in the German headquarters in Paris. Trying to return a child blended both the gameplay and cut scenes brilliantly to make you feel like part of an action scene that had some emotional weight. Even supplying ammo to frontline soldiers in the Ardennes forest was welcomed as a change of pace from the run-and-gun moments that you see plenty of (albeit in a hand-held way).
Multiplayer has followed suit with Destiny by having a community ‘lobby’ where you can equip your soldier, test weapons, prestige your class, take up daily and weekly orders – there’s bloody loads of stuff! At first it can seem daunting as there are lots of things you need to do and the game itself doesn’t do a great job at helping you to get started. There are so many things going on at once – daily orders, weekly orders, weapon upgrade tasks, player upgrades, perks, ribbons, appearance unlocks it can be a headache to navigate especially as there are so many menus to go across and the UI isn’t the best. It took me ages to find some features and in the end I had to just google ‘How do I…” and I found the answers. I’m not in a hurry to get the most badass class going so I am taking my time with a lot of the things and I feel I enjoy it more, the game can feel a little pressuring on some of the options as there are time restrictions to achieve objectives from a week down to 30 minutes for some. A lot of the rewards are either coins or loot crates.
You can pick it up from Amazon here.
What games have you picked up recently? I'd love to get your recommendations on what to play next.
It's that time of year when Mothers, Sisters, Girlfriends and the rest of the female population are on the hunt for a perfect Christmas gift for the guys in their life. Hopefully this post will give you a few hints. For this Top 5 I've had a browse around one of my favourite lifestyle brands for some inspiration - Oliver Bonas. They have a fantastic selection of gifts for all budgets. Enjoy!
1. Crosley Dansette Bermuda Console Turntable - £279
First up here's one for the vinyl-loving guy in your life. Crosley has always been a key player in record players but over the past couple of years has really exploded into popularity among twenty somethings everywhere. This is the console turntable, which is at the upper end of the price range for Crosley but certainly one of their most impressive players. It has removable legs so that you can put it on a table top if you prefer and boasts dynamic full range stereo speakers, which basically means it sounds incredible too. Although you can use external speakers or headphones if you like.
2. Marble & Copper Bar Tools Set - £60
Here's one for the guy that loves cocktail hour, but wants to create that same buzz at home! This great looking bar tools set includes a marble base and 100% copper rail and tools that will look at home on any side table along or drinks trolley with his favourite tipples.
3. Where Chefs Eat - £16.95
This next gift is one of my favourites - and incidentally the cheapest of the bunch! Where Chefs Eat is a book comprised of restaurant reviews not by mystery 'experts' but instead by over 600 of the finest chefs in the world. It's the ultimate guide to the best places to eat across various cities around the globe and must-have gift for the discerning foodie.
4. Carrara Marble Espresso Cups & Saucers - £18
Another marble item on the list. For the coffee lover in your life, this set of two espresso cups and saucers will make him want to get the kettle on straight away! Made from marble and packaged in bespoke Oliver Bonas packaging, these make a great gift.
5. Korres Men's Kit - £19
Korres is one of my favourite Mens grooming brands and this kit filled with minis of some of their best products would make a great Christmas stocking filler. It contains 2 shower gels, shampoo, shaving cream and an aftershave balm. Korres is a Greek skincare brand with roots in Athen's first ever Homeopathic Pharmacy. Based on its pharmacy experience in over 3,000 homeopathic remedies of herbal origin, the company today offers a natural and certified organic skin care range.
Thanks for reading, do you have any other Christmas favourites form Oliver Bonas this year?
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